The night they saved Christmas

STOCKTON - A Lodi Unified teacher, with a little help from social networking, has denied the Grinch his mojo.

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By Keith Reid

recordnet.com

By Keith Reid

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Keith Reid
Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - A Lodi Unified teacher, with a little help from social networking, has denied the Grinch his mojo.

Julia Morgan Elementary special-education teacher and Lodi Adopt-a-Child board member Karen Paulsen took it upon herself to add 147 children from six of Lodi's poorest schools to the nonprofit's list of children who will receive gifts this year. A new computer program left the children, who all qualified for the program, off the organization's initial list.

Adopting 147 children at the last minute seemed an impossible task.

Paulsen couldn't accept "impossible" as a solution.

"These are kids that need help. They all qualify for another program where they get a K-Mart shopping spree for school clothes and supplies," Paulsen said. "I found out they weren't on the list and had to have them added."

Adopt-a-Child President Jerry Glenn doubted there was time. The organization was busy gathering close to 1,000 other donations. Adopt-a-Child seeks donors willing to buy one outfit and one toy for the child they adopt.

"He said I could try to get the extra donations, but I was going to have to take it on myself," Paulsen said.

Paulsen turned to social media, a world she admits she's not up to speed with.

"I have this tiny circle on Facebook, but I posted in bold type, begging for help, ... and the next thing you know, help is coming from everywhere," she said, adding that friends passed on the message.

"We got a donation from as far away as New Zealand. I broke down and cried at the response. It was fantastic."

The result culminated Monday at Julia Morgan Elementary, where people dropped off donations - items that children told organizers they wanted for Christmas. Volunteers such as Bear Creek High sophomore Amelia Cook, 15, donated time to wrap gifts.

Tifanne Hardy and her son Owen stopped in Monday with a donation for an 8-year-old girl.

"We do something every year, but I heard about this on Facebook and decided to do it. It's really a nice thing because it's personal," Hardy said. "We got this girl and we see what she wanted."

A dress and shoes, plus small cosmetic bags full of fun items for a young girl - lip gloss and the like.

"It's personal, cute and fun for her," Hardy said.

The Hardys' adopted 8-year-old is only one of the children who attend Heritage, Washington, Joe Serna, Beckman, Lawrence and Nichols elementary schools - all in Lodi.

In total, Adopt-a-Child received donations for 1,147 children, Glenn said.